Emma Watson Pussy
Books:
Anna Karenina
War And Peace
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at all convinced. On the contrary, I feel I have no
right to give it up, that I have duties both to the land and to
my family."
"No, excuse me, but if you consider this inequality is unjust,
why is it you dont act accordingly?..."
"Well, I do act negatively on that idea, so far as not trying to
increase the difference of position existing between him and me."
"No, excuse me, thats a paradox."
"Yes, theres something of a sophistry about that," Veslovsky
agreed. "Ah! our host; so youre not asleep yet?" he said to the
peasant who came into the barn, opening the creaking door. "How
is it youre not asleep?"
"No, hows one to sleep! I thought our gentlemen would be
asleep, but I heard them chattering. I want to get a hook from
here. She wont bite?" he added, stepping cautiously with his
bare feet.
"And where are you going to sleep?"
"We are going out for the night with the beasts."
"Ah, what a night!" said Veslovsky, looking out at the edge of
the hut and the unharnessed wagonette that could be seen in the
faint light of the evening glow in the great frame of the open
doors. "But listen, there are womens voices singing, and, on my
word, not badly too. Whos that singing, my friend?"
"Thats the maids from hard by here."
"Lets go, lets have a walk! We shant go to sleep, you know.
Oblonsky, come along!"
"If one could only do both, lie here and go," answered Oblonsky,
stretching. "Its capital lying here."
"Well, I shall go by myself," said Veslovsky, getting up
eagerly, and putting on his shoes and stockings. "Good-bye,
gentlemen. If its fun, Ill fetch you. Youve treated me to
some good sport, and I wont forget you."
"He really is a capital fellow, isnt he?" said Stepan
Arkadyevitch, when Veslovsky had gone out and the peasant had
closed the door after him.
"Yes, capital," answered Levin, still thinking of the subject of
their conversation just before. It seemed to him that he had
clearly expressed his thoughts and feelings to the best of his
capacity, and yet both of them, straightforward men and not
fools, had said with one voice that he was comforting himself
with sophistries. This disconcerted him.
"Its just this, my dear boy. One must do one of two things:
either admit that the existing order of society is just, and then
stick up for ones rights in it; or acknowledge that you are
enjoying unjust privileges, as I do, and then enjoy them and be
satisfied."
"No, if it were unjust, you could not enjoy these advantages and
be satisfied--at least I could not. The great thing for me is
to feel that Im not to blame."
"What do you say, why not go after all?" said Stepan
Arkadyevitch, evidently weary of the strain of thought. "We
shant go to sleep, you know. Come, lets go!"
Levin did not answer. What they had said in the conversation,
that he acted justly only in a negative sense, absorbed his
thoughts. "Can it be that its only possible to be just
negatively?" he was asking himself.
"How strong the smell of the fresh hay is, though," said Stepan
Arkadyevitch, getting up. "Theres not a chance of sleeping.
Vassenka has been getting up some fun there. Do you hear the
laughing and his voice? Hadnt we better go? Come along!"
"No, Im not coming," answered Levin.
"Surely thats not a matter of principle too," said Stepan
Arkadyevitch, smiling, as he felt about in the dark for his cap.
"Its not a matter of principle, but why should I go?"
"But do you know you are preparing trouble for yourself," said
Stepan Arkadyevitch, finding his cap and getting up.
"How so?"
"Do you suppose I dont see the line youve taken up with your
wife? I heard how its a question of the greatest consequence,
whether or not youre to be away for a couple of days shooting.
Thats all very well as an idyllic episode, but for your whole
life that wont answer. A man must be independent; he has his
masculine interests. A man has to be manly," said Oblonsky,
opening the door.
"In what way? To go running after servant girls?" said Levin.
"Why not, if it amuses him? _Ca ne tire pas a consequence_. It
wont do my wife any harm, and itll amuse me.
Anna Karenina page 337 Anna Karenina page 339
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